News Broadcasting
Arnab’s Republic TV to air 1971 ‘Air Battle of Srinagar’ on Air Force Day
MUMBAI: This Air Force Day on 8 October, Republic TV will telecast the documentary “The Air Battle of Srinagar”, about the heroic role played by the Indian Air Force (IAF) in the 1971 War.
The channel’s ethos lie in putting the nation above all and celebrating the unity in diversity, which has flourished despite a myriad of issues. The Air Battle of Srinagar depicts the fighting spirit of the Indian Airforce which played a pivotal role in protecting India.
The documentary gives a brief backdrop to how the 1971 war began and how through the pivotal actions of Air Force got Pakistan to surrender in 14 days, in one of the biggest mass surrenders since the Second World War. The focus of the documentary is on the air action that took place in Srinagar. That air field had no radar and no fighter aircraft stationed due to the UN agreement. Each day of this war this air base was subjected to repeated and savage attacks on the scarce protection, but it valiantly fought back and managed to emerge victorious.
The documentary has used 2D and 3D animation and VFX effects brilliantly to portray the scenes of air to air combat and attacks upon air fields. The visual narrative and storytelling is gripping and sets a new benchmark in the genre of combat films/ documentaries in India. The script and commentary is by Maj Gen (Dr) G D Bakshi, a well-known TV commentator. Many celebrated Army and Air force veterans like AVM Jindal (retd), Col Anil Bhat VSM, Col Bhatia and Wg Cdr Prafulla Bakshi have enacted very convincing roles. Wg Cdr Vinod Kumar Neb VrC and Bar, the fighter hero of the 1965 and 1971 wars has given expert comments on the air combat.
‘The Air Battle of Srinagar” will air on Republic TV on 7 and 8 October at 3pm.
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 to host Kolkata Town Hall on Hooghly River
‘Bhalobasa Bengal Inspiring Bharat’ event on April 20 brings cultural icons, trailblazing women and leaders aboard a cruise to celebrate Bengal’s enduring influence.
MUMBAI: Bengal is about to make fresh waves on the Hooghly and this time the current is pure conversation. CNN-News18 is taking its iconic Town Hall format to the waters of the iconic Hooghly River on 20 April 2026 with a special edition titled ‘Bhalobasa Bengal – Inspiring Bharat’. The floating event will celebrate the state’s rich cultural legacy and how its ideas, creativity and spirit continue to shape the rest of the country.
The unique riverside setting draws on Bengal’s history as a cradle of reform, art and intellectual thought. The speaker line-up mirrors that diversity: cultural heavyweights Mithun Chakraborty and Sreenanda Shankar will share the stage with trailblazing “Devis” such as Tanya Sanyal (India’s first woman firefighter in aviation), Ipsita Chakraborty (Kolkata’s first woman bartender) and Reshma Nilofer Visalakshi (Nari Shakti awardee and marine pilot). Music will flow through the celebrated pianist-vocalist duo Sourendro and Soumyojit, while public life and governance will be represented by Smriti Irani, Leander Paes, Saira Shah Halim, Keya Ghosh, Rekha Patra, Roopa Ganguly and Babul Supriyo.
CNN-News18, editorial affairs director, Rahul Shivshankar, said the event honours voices that carry Bengal’s legacy forward. Smriti Mehra, CEO – English & Business News, Network18, added that Bengal’s stories resonate far beyond its borders, especially as the state heads into polls.
From the first woman to battle flames in the skies to legendary actors who shaped Indian cinema, the gathering promises a rich mix of inspiration, courage and candid dialogue. In a city where culture has always flowed as freely as the river itself, CNN-News18 is turning the Hooghly into a floating forum for ideas that matter.
Tune in on 20 April on CNN-News18, CTV and YouTube to catch Bengal’s heartbeat in full flow.
